PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Pacific baseball team (7-6) will play their second weekend series of a nine-game road stretch when they travel to the desert to face Grand Canyon University (7-6) for a three-game set.
After falling to Sacramento State, 9-2, on Tuesday, the Tigers are hungry to gain their momentum back against the Lopes.
SERIES SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 7, 2020
Pacific at Grand Canyon | 6:00 p.m.
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz.
Probable Pitchers:
Lucas Sweany, LHP (PAC, 1-2, 3.06 ERA, 17.2 IP) vs. Pierson Ohl, RHP (GCU, 0-2, 3.43 ERA, 21.0 IP)
Live Stream |
Live Stats
Saturday, March 8, 2020
Pacific at Grand Canyon | 1:00 p.m.
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz.
Probable Pitchers:
Grant Stevens, LHP (PAC, 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 12.0 IP) vs. Dawson McCarville, RHP (GCU, 1-2, 3.31 ERA, 16.1 IP)
Live Stream |
Live Stats
Sunday, March 9, 2020
Pacific at Grand Canyon | 12:00 p.m.
Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark | Phoenix, Ariz.
Probable Pitchers:
Hayden Pearce, RHP (PAC, 1-0, 3.06 ERA, 17.2 IP) vs. Jack Schneider, LHP (GCU, 1-0, 2.81 ERA, 16.0 IP)
Live Stream |
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT:
- Not scoring their first run of the contest until the top of the eighth, the Tigers could not match the offensive firepower of the Hornets in their second midweek matchup of the year, falling to Sacramento State, 9-2 on Tuesday, Mar. 3.
- Despite the loss, junior Landon Curtis was named the City of Stockton Human Resources Hardworking Player of the Game after recording a scoreless inning of relief in the bottom of the eighth, retiring Sacramento State on just six pitches.
- Additionally, redshirt junior Nick Swanson made his sixth appearance of the season and has yet to allow a run following another scoreless inning against the Hornets. Showing his dominance, junior Henrik Reinertsen also delivered his sixth consecutive scoreless outing on Tuesday night.
- At the dish, junior Joe Fitzhugh and senior Carter Hayes each extended their hitting streaks to three and four games respectively.
ON THE PROWL:
- After beginning the season with 13 straight scoreless appearances, Swanson is off to another hot start in 2020, having not allowed an earned run in six appearances and 5.1 innings pitched so far.
- Transferring from Sierra College, junior Charles Middleton has impressed through his first couple weeks with the Tigers. Overall, the outfielder is hitting .392, good for first on the team. Furthermore, Middleton leads Pacific in several other statistical categories: OPS (1.072), runs scored (12), total hits (20), doubles (4), home runs (2), RBI (15), total bases (30) slugging percentage (.588) and on-base percentage (.484).
- In the field, Middleton has converted all 16 of his chances for a putout so far this season, notching a 1.000 fielding percentage heading into the series against Grand Canyon.
- Switching to third base this offseason after spending time at first last year, junior Alex LeForestier continues to display his talent with the bat in his hands, sitting second on the team in batting average with a .326 clip heading into this weekend. Starting all 13 games for the Tigers so far in 2020, the 6'1" infielder is right behind Middleton in runs scored (11), RBI (10) total bases (19) slugging percentage (.442) and on-base percentage (.464).
SCOUTING THE LOPES:
- With both clubs coming into the contest with a 7-6 overall record, the Tigers and the Lopes are set to square off for the first time in program history.
- Testing themselves early, Grand Canyon took the first series over No. 22 Oklahoma State, 2-1, to open their season before squeezing past 2019 NCAA Super Regional participant Stanford, 5-3, in 18 innings on Friday, Feb. 28.
- Using the strength of their arms, GCU ranks 25th in the nation in team ERA with a staff mark of 2.62 heading into the week. Furthermore, they also rank 18th in fewest walks per nine innings (2.76) and 46th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.0 to 1)
- Finding his stride at the plate, junior Dominic Grissom has crushed four of the Lopes' seven home runs so far this season and is one of only 72 players in Division I with four long balls.
TRACK THE ACTION:
Live stats for all four contests will be available on pacifictigers.com. The entirety of the series will also be streamed live on GCU TV.
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